IslamicFinance.de

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, Osun State will issue Nigeria's first Sukuk bond of N10 billion before the end of July. The planned 7-year paper would be part of a N60 billion debt raising programme of the state which started last year. The Osun bond will be issued through a book-building process which will earn a return for sukuk holders via a semi-annually paid rent structure called the Ijara. The government is targeting local pension funds and international investors on the bond. Local credit rating agency Agusto & Co has assigned an A rating to the note, which will be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Osun is waiting for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) approval to start marketing the bond. The funds will be used to finance the construction of education projects.